Drug firms argue against $1.2B Arkansas judgment LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A lawyer for two pharmaceutical companies argued Thursday that the Arkansas Supreme Court should reverse a $1.2 billion judgment because the trial judge improperly applied a law in the state's lawsuit over improper marketing of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. Attorney Walter Dellinger said there was no fraud or improper reimbursements for Medicaid patients who were prescribed the drug, even though the state pursued Johnson...

House speaker: Medicaid talks continuing LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Opponents of Arkansas' compromise Medicaid expansion on Wednesday said they're floating ideas to slow enrollment, as they began meetings with House leaders aimed at ending a legislative stalemate over the program. House Speaker Davy Carter met for two hours with several opponents of the "private option" plan to use federal Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents. The House again delayed a fifth ...

Ross makes bid for Arkansas governor official LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross on Wednesday made his bid for Arkansas governor official, criticizing his chief Republican rival over ads being aired by an outside group and for not weighing in on the debate over the state's compromise Medicaid expansion. Filing paperwork at the state Capitol, Ross vowed to follow in the footsteps of Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe as he seeks the state's top office. Ross is the only announced Democra...

Woman pleads guilty to faking nurse credentials LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A woman accused of posing as a nurse while working at a Searcy elementary school pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges that could land her in prison for more than 20 years, though the government asked the judge to limit her prison time. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Morgan and the defense asked U.S. District Judge Brian Miller to sentence Susan Elaine Boyce, 57, to the longest probation allowed but on the low end o...

Prosecutors attack Shoffner's motion to dismiss LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Federal prosecutors argue in court papers that a judge would be wrong to dismiss corruption charges against former Arkansas treasurer Martha Shoffner. The government on Wednesday filed a response to an earlier motion by Shoffner that asks a judge to throw out 14 bribery and extortion counts, on which she is to be tried starting Monday. Shoffner is accused of accepting $36,000 to steer state business to a bond dealer. She arg...

Only Green Party lawmaker to run as Democrat LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The state's sole Green Party lawmaker filed for re-election as a Democrat on Wednesday, saying he had changed since the Democratic Party sued to keep him off the ballot and wanted to return to the political party with which he has long identified. Rep. Fred Smith, a former Harlem Globetrotter, was elected as a Democrat in 2010 but resigned after a judge found him guilty of a felony theft charge. A judge later dismissed the c...

Candidates file official bids for treasurer LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas lawmaker and a Hot Springs accountant have officially entered the race for the state treasurer's office. State Rep. Duncan Baird, a Republican, submitted paperwork Wednesday to make his bid official for the post against Republican Saline County Circuit Clerk Dennis Milligan. Both are seeking the GOP's nomination for the position in the May primary. Hot Springs accountant Karen Sealy Garcia, a Democrat, also submi...

Appeals court: Have hearing on juror in meth case LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal appeals panel has granted a request by a man convicted in a drug case to explore whether the presence of an alternate juror during deliberations made his trial unfair. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ordered a hearing to determine the level of participation the alternate juror had during deliberations that led to Manuel Maldonado Aguilar's conviction. Maldonado was arrested in Little Rock in 2011...

Candidates officially enter statewide races LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Two candidates seeking the Arkansas secretary of state office and a Republican pursuing the state treasurer's position have officially entered a race for election. Longtime election official Susan Inman, a Democrat, submitted her paperwork Tuesday to challenge Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin for the office. Martin, who was elected in 2010, formally entered his re-election bid later in the day. Inman is a member of ...

Fire at Van Buren food plant extinguished VAN BUREN (AP) — Van Buren firefighters have extinguished a fire inside a Simmons Foods plant in Van Buren. Officials say there were no injuries as a result of the fire that was reported about 9 a.m. Tuesday. Fire Department Officer Stanley Clark told the Times Record it appears the fire was started by oil from a ruptured line into a boiler. Clark says the fire was contained to the boiler room, but that it caused a significant amount of smoke ...

Arkansas deaths from influenza at 52 LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Health Department says 52 people have died from influenza so far this flu season. Officials said Tuesday that there's about one week left in peak flu season and the toll could still rise. Last flu season, 61 people in Arkansas died from the respiratory virus. Most of people who developed fatal infections were adults between ages of 25 and 62. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says the flu...

House delays vote on Medicaid expansionLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter challenged opponents of the state's compromise Medicaid expansion Tuesday to offer an alternative that could break a legislative stalemate threatening the future of a program that provides subsidized coverage to more than 93,000 people. The House delayed plans to vote for a fifth time on the "private option," after Carter backed off his vow to take up the bill every day on the program's future u...

32 apply for UA lobbyist position, including Darr LITTLE ROCK — More than 30 people have applied for a position as a lobbyist for the University of Arkansas, a job designed to influence policy to benefit the school's flagship campus in Fayetteville. Many of the 32 people who applied are associated with government, including former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, who resigned on Feb. 1 after being fined $11,000 for ethics violations. State Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, is among the applicants, as is f...

Trumann man pleads guilty to Caraway school attack JONESBORO (AP) — A Trumann man has been sentenced to five years' probation after pleading guilty to attacking three students at an elementary school in Caraway in 2012. The Jonesboro Sun reported Michael Wayne Stayton, 49, was sentenced Friday after Stayton pleaded guilty to three counts of battery. Stayton was also ordered to undergo alcohol and drug rehabilitation and to have no contact with the victims. Stayton was arrested Sept. 18, 2012, ...

UCA board bans e-cigarettes on campus, in vehicles CONWAY (AP) — The University of Central Arkansas' Board of Trustees has banned the use of electronic cigarettes on the university's campus and in university-owned vehicles. The Log Cabin Democrat reported the board voted unanimously Friday to update its policy that bans the use of any tobacco products to include the electronic cigarettes — which emit a water vapor containing nicotine. The new policy was recommended by a committee formed last f...

Pryor formally endorses minimum wage hikeLITTLE ROCK (AP) — U.S. Mark Pryor is formally endorsing a proposal to raise the minimum wage in Arkansas. The initiative needs 62,507 signatures of registered votes by July 7 in order to appear on the ballot in November. Pryor said Saturday in Little Rock that the proposal is the right thing to do. It would raise the state's current $6.25 per hour minimum wage to $7.50 per hour on Jan. 1, 2015; to $8 per hour on Jan. 1, 2016, and to $8.50 per...

House fails to get 75 votes on Medicaid planThe Arkansas House voted Friday for a fourth time to authorize funding for the state's compromise Medicaid expansion plan, known as the private option. The plan failed 71-18, falling short of the 75-vote supermajority needed for passage in the 100-member chamber. A yes vote is in favor of reauthorizing the private option plan. Yeas: Republicans (23): Altes, Baird, Bell, Biviano, Bragg, Branscum, Burris, Carter, Collins, Dale, Davis, D. Douglas...

Senate OKs keeping lieutenant governor office open LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would avoid a special election this year for the lieutenant governor's position left open by the resignation of Mark Darr. The Senate voted 35-0 in favor of the bill, which would enable Gov. Mike Beebe to not call a special election for the office within 10 months of the November election. Darr resigned Feb. 1, and lawmakers hope to avoid a special election before...

Senate passes, House rejects health plan LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A compromise plan for Medicaid expansion in Arkansas remained stalled in the state House Thursday, despite the state Senate endorsing legislation to continue the nationally watched program that is providing subsidized health coverage to more than 87,000 people. The House on Thursday voted 72-25 to reauthorize funding for the "private option," three votes shy of the 75 needed to continue the program using federal Medicaid fun...

Inmate asks for new death penalty hearingLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A man sentenced to death for a 1993 killing at a Little Rock laundry asked the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday to order a new sentencing hearing on grounds the jury didn't consider evidence that he had a troubled childhood. Terrick Nooner, 42, was convicted of killing Scot Stobaugh, 22, of Russellville during a robbery. A second person also was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Josh Lee, Nooner's a...